Just came from the birthday party of Congressman [Jose] Joe Alberto of Catanduanes, Chairman of the Appropriations Committee and leader of the Bicol congressmen. The political leaders are all for Imelda running for President after me.
[Alejandro] Landring Almendras, [Dominador] Doming Aytona both of the Senate were there—and many congressmen. All had something to ask.
Official Gazette for March 18, 1971: PRESIDENT MARCOS said the country may expect sugar surpluses in the next three years and should prepare now to solve any problem on over-production might cause.
As the same time the President expressed optimism that the Philippines would not only continue to get its quota from the United States but perhaps succeed in increasing it.
The President made these points in a speech at the opening of the sugar industry convention, where he was guest speaker.
Arriving at the convention at 11:15 AM the President was welcomed and escorted to the presidential table by Don Manolo Elizalde, president of the Sugar Club of the Philippines, Inc. and the Sugar Association; Don Carlos Ledesma, president of the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters; Ciro Locsin, president of the Sugar Producers’ Cooperative Marketing Association, Inc.; and Ernesto V. Santos, president of the Sugar Exporters Association of the Philippines.
The President started the day with a breakfast with UPI President A. Mims Thomason, and publishers and editors of newspapers, after which he put in some desk work.
Later in the morning, Thomason returned to Malacañang to interview the President. Accompanying Thomason was Vicente Maliwanag, Manila UPI manager.
Then the President received at formal rites the credentials of the new Swiss envoy, Ferdinand Dufour, ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary. The ceremony was attended by Secretary of Foreign Affairs Carlos P. Romulo, Secretary of General Services Constancio E. Castañeda, Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Manuel Collantes and Assistant Executive Secretary Roberto V. Reyes.
After a spell of work back at his desk, the President again submitted to an interview, this time by Fr. Martin Ramsaver of the Ateneo East Asia Pastoral Institute. The Jesuit priest was accompanied to Malacañang by Fr. Friedrich, a colleague from the EAPI and a television reporter.
Before noon, the President also had a conference with NBI Director Jolly Bugarin and put in an appearance at the sugar industry convention at the Hotel Intercontinental.
He had a working lunch with Henry Kearns, president and chairman of the Export-Import Blank, along with Secretary Romulo, Central Bank Governor, Gregorio S. Licaros, Secretary of Finance Cesar E. A. Virata, DBP Chairman Leonides S. Virata, and J. E. Corette, general counsel of the Export-Import Bank.
In the afternoon, the President worked mostly at his desk, but disengaged from it at about 4 PM to receive two large delegations from Bataan and Pangasinan who took up local problems with him, notably public works and PACD projects.
The Bataan delegation, headed by Gov. Guillermo Arcenas and Rep. Pablo R. Roman, was composed of the mayors of Dinalupihan, Hermosa, Samal, Abucay, Pilar, Bagac, Morong, and officials of the Federation of Barrio Councilmen of the province.
The Pangasinan delegation iwas headed by Land Authority Gov. Conrado Estrella, Vice Gov. Vicente Milora, former Vice Gov. Nancy Q. Sison, Board Members Porfirio Sison, Agerico Rosario, and Alfonso Bince, Jr., and included delegates to the Constitutional Convention and municipal mayors from five districts.
After receiving the provincial delegations, the President and the First Lady, Imelda R. Marcos, received Mr. and Mrs. A. Mims Thomason who came to bade goodbye before leaving Manila.
Breakfast with the publishers and editors with Mr. and Mrs. [A. A.] Thomason. [Joaquin] Chino Roces was there. And he tried to wisecrack about durian and papaya as well as my golf, trying to be as casual as could be. His jokes were flat but I tried to be nice to him.
Even the editor of Chronicle and [Antonio S.] Tony Araneta the publisher of Graphic were there. They have been vicious and personal lately.
Spoke at the Sugar Club headed by Manolo Elizalde at 11:00 AM. Even Kokoy [Benjamin Romuladez] thinks it was a good speech. And so did Ambassador [Henry] Byroade.
I departed mostly from the text. Plenty of wisecracks (We are kindred spirits. You are blamed for many things you are not responsible for like the President of the Philippines; the Sugar Club should teach the Senate how to pass bills [they approved the declaration of principles so fast there was no time for dissent and the senate is notorious for filibusters and inaction]) and warnings of an impending violent revolution as well as congratulations for their example of capitalism with a conscience (for the organization of the Sugar Industry Social and Economic Development Fund of one peso per picul of production which makes P30 million since the production this year is 30 million piculs, 90% of which fund goes to bonuses and outright payment and 10% to such things like cooperatives, credit unions, hospitals, training, etc.
Then lunch with Mr. [Henry] Kearns, the President of the Export-Import Bank of the U.S. He seems to be liberal minded and is willing to help us. Incidentally Mr. Baines, the man who seems to know most about marble was mentioned and Mr. Kearns promised to get his recommendations on the development of Philippine marble (which seems to be the best in the world) and send them to me.
Kearns seems impressed with the natural resources of the country.
Met the Bataan delegation at 4:15 PM and the Pangasinan delegation at 4:30 PM, the first on public works releases and the second on the gubernatorial fight between [Tito] Primicias and [Aguedo] Agbayani.
The Thomasons bade good-bye at 5:00 PM. They go to Singapore.
Played golf waiting for Imelda who went to attend the premiere of the Shell travelogue on the Philippines at the Coral Ballroom of the Hilton—Land of the Sun Returning.
During the game, Ambassador [Modesto] Farolan arrived and we talked of Filipino investors in Indonesia, specially in logging.